ELECTION 2020
Local Elections | 2020
C
andidates vying for political office have the opportunity to submit candidate statements to the Elections Office. Most candidates do write a statement that outlines who they are, why they are running for office and any other matters they might consider important. El Ravenswood has combed through all the statements for races in East Palo
Alto and the Belle Haven community in Menlo Park and compared what each candidate says about their priorities and their qualifications for office. Candidates are limited to 200-250 words depending on whether it is a local or statewide office. Some candidates were not specific as to the priorities they would work on, focusing more on their academic or professional qualifications.
Some incumbents wrote statements that did not indicate their achievements while in office, while other incumbents attributed them to the ‘team’ rather to themselves as individuals and some, of course, gave themselves all the credit. El Ravenswood is providing the information in this format to allow readers to easily compare each of the candidates.
Sequoia Union High School District (1) Candidate
Priorities
Qualifications
Shawneece Stevenson
• Quality education for all students • Equity and support of diverse learners
Jacqui Cebrian
Did not file a candidate statement
• Served on the Menlo-Atherton Foundation Board • Worked with Black Student Union clubs at MenloAtherton and Sequoia High Schools • Served on the District’s School Re-Opening Taskforce
Ravenswood City School District (2) Candidate
Priorities
Qualifications
Bronwyn Alexander
• Strong academic programs • Equity and equal access for all students • Wellness programs for students and families
• Veteran teacher of 28 years with 15 in the Ravenswood City School District
Joel Rivera
• Make partnerships a priority • Bring teachers, staff, students, parents, administrators and the board together. • Empowering teachers, staff, parents and students
• Lived in East Palo Alto for 20 years • Wife born and raised in East Palo Alto and a teacher in the Ravenswood City School District
Marielena GaonaMendoza
• Narrow the academic achievement gap • Better prepare 8th graders for high school • Improve students social and emotional health • Address the equity digital divide
• Incumbent • Special Education Teacher and advocate • Track record of supporting policies such as the Sanctuary Resolution Policy, Students Restraining Policy and better pay for teachers and other staff
12 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2020 | EL RAVENSWOOD
